Coaching
BUILDING RAPPORT
BY DIANE COOLICAN
The impact of coaching is often underestimated, though it is an integral part of any learning and development programme. The success of coaching is dependent on the building and maintaining of strong relationships.
Coaching can sometimes be a time intensive and costly undertaking for companies and is often the part of learning and development programmes that is minimised or scaled back when budgets are tight. However, it is arguably the most crucial part of the development process, as it gives employees opportunities to put their learning to the test, receive direct feedback, and even come up with new innovative ideas.
Invariably, the leadership programmes that make the most impact incorporate some form of coaching – whether one to one or as part of a group. Coaching aids not only personal development, but can also help bring about behavioural and strategic change within an organisation if implemented effectively. It is usually carried out as a follow on to a programme to embed behaviours, skills and techniques.
Effective coaching rests on strong relationships – both with senior members of the organisation to ensure that company needs and targets are met, and with those being coached to build trust and rapport. The coach/trainee relationship is best cultivated over a period of time, giving the opportunity for them to get to know one another and generate a long term relationship. For the coach this is all about understanding what makes their trainee tick – what language do they use, what are their aspirations, and what motivates them. For the trainee, this is the opportunity to learn and gain confidence in applying aspects of their training programmes.
A long term commitment and approach has the benefit of allowing behaviour to embed in the individual, and then the organisation as a knock on effect. This is often the reason that coaching is perceived as a costly endeavour.
The benefits far outweigh the costs involved. Companies that apply effective coaching tend to see an improvement in team harmony and morale and an increase in the drive and ambition of
46 | TRAINING MAGAZINE EUROPE FEB 2015
IN COACHING